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Irradiation Damage in Ti 3 (Si,Al)C 2 : a TEM Investigation
Author(s) -
Le Flem Marion,
Liu Xingmin,
Doriot Sylvie,
Cozzika Théodore,
Monnet Isabelle
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7402.2010.02523.x
Subject(s) - irradiation , materials science , nanoindentation , amorphous solid , transmission electron microscopy , microstructure , diffraction , ion , crystallography , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , optics , physics , nuclear physics , chromatography , organic chemistry
Ti 3 SiC 2 , belonging to MAX phases, is a potential candidate material, which could be incorporated in core components of future gas‐cooled fast nuclear reactors (GFR). Despite extensive work on mechanical behavior, corrosion resistance, or electrical properties, data concerning the evolution of Ti 3 SiC 2 under irradiation are very limited. In this work, Ti 3 (Si,Al)C 2 was irradiated at room temperature with 92 MeV Xe ions to induce irradiation damage. The samples were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) through front view and cross‐section observations, which allowed to follow microstructure changes from 0.02 dpa up to 6.67 dpa. Progressive atomic disorder versus dose was highlighted, leading to extinction of some diffraction spots (at 0.15 dpa) and then diffuse patterns (at 3 dpa). The ABABACAC periodicity related to 3‐1‐2 MAX phases was lost but the image fringes of basal plans could still be identified and no amorphous ring occurred. This means that Ti 3 (Si,Al)C 2 was strongly affected by irradiation but did not turn to amorphous even at 6.67 dpa. This important result was correlated to previous conclusions from X‐ray diffraction and nanoindentation analysis and suggests the good behavior of Ti 3 (Si,Al)C 2 under irradiation in the target temperature range assigned to GFR.